Abstract [en]

The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes toward psychotropic medication as treatment on mental illness among nurse students. Through an electronic survey a quantitative data collection was made. The sample contained nurse students from four different universities in Sweden. The General Social Survey and complementary questions was used to measure attitudes toward psychiatric medications. The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) was used to investigate if attitudes correlated with life satisfaction, thus preferences the individual has to life in general. Data was analyzed with Spearman correlation tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests. The result showed no significant correlation between life satisfaction and attitudes toward psychiatric medications. However the result did show a negative significant correlation between advantages and disadvantages with psychiatric medications. Thus were the participants more positive than negative towards psychotropic medication in general. The result showed no significant difference between the students whether they studied a 7,5 hp course in mental illness and attitudes towards psychiatric medications. The conclusion is that theoretical education within mental illness does not generate a more positive attitude toward psychotropic medication as treatment. To know someone who suffers from or have suffered from mental illness appears to be a variable that generates a more positive attitude. Furthermore life satisfaction does not correlate with attitudes toward psychotropic as treatment.